The La Marque Economic Development Corporation presented a proposed $2.5 million regular budget and a revitalization plan Monday that keeps grant funding available to reimburse developers and funds ongoing retail- and place-making efforts.

The EDC’s executive director, Alex Geddy, told the City Council the regular EDC budget anticipates $1,700,000 in revenues and about $300,000 in interest earnings, with a planned use of roughly $500,000 in fund balance to support a total package that Geddy said is “a balanced budget, as typical.”

Geddy said the EDC’s grant line on the expenditure side is set at $750,000 because the corporation wants to be able to reimburse developers if projects reach certain benchmarks under agreements the EDC has signed. “We budget conservatively,” he said. “There’s a chance that that won’t be far enough along, but just in case, we’d rather have it in the budget than not.”

The EDC told councilmembers it will continue to support several city positions through allocations in its budget (accounting, clerical, development services, IT and facility maintenance totaling $120,000) and intends to use interest earnings and proceeds from property transactions to replenish its revitalization fund.

Grocery recruitment and retail strategy were recurring topics during the presentation and council discussion. Geddy said staff and consultants are actively marketing the city to grocers, noting a target for 25,000-square-foot grocery-anchored space and discussing individual retailers by category. “We just want to continue to stay in front of those folks,” he said. He also described a recent push of tailored marketing flyers for grocery prospects and ongoing outreach to chains and regional operators.

Councilmembers asked about tactics to attract grocers and other anchors, including fast-tracking approvals, signage and beautification along 1765 and Highway 3, and use of revitalization funds for small public-facing projects. Councilmember Tanya Yancey (District A) urged matching streetscape and signage work with school and TxDOT improvements, saying “we have a lot of newcomers who cannot tell the difference between Tech City and La Marque.” Geddy said beautification work would likely come out of the revitalization fund and referenced an earlier memorandum of understanding used to maintain the “four corners” at Laurel and First.

The EDC also discussed a possible pilot of camera surveillance for safety on commercial corridors; Geddy said the idea had been discussed with police and could use revitalization funding or grants. He told council the EDC is working with collaborators on a Highway 3 corridor plan and noted the revitalization committee had approved $15,000 toward a match for an HGAC livability study, with a total local match of $25,000 anticipated.

Councilmembers pressed the EDC on its procurement of professional services and engineering for potential development projects. Geddy described typical uses of the “professional fees” line (legal, civil engineering, land planning, strategic planning, tenant recruitment) and said the EDC expects to spend more in that category if one or both pending real estate deals advance.

Nut graf: The EDC plan keeps a large discretionary grant balance so the city can deliver incentives and reimbursements to developers if proposed projects meet milestones; council members pressed for clearer deliverables on retail recruitment and for additional streetscape and workforce supports aimed at attracting grocery stores and other anchors.

Background and details: The EDC budget packet shows the corporation budgeting conservatively because sales-tax volatility and I-45 construction continue to affect receipts. Geddy said the board approved the budget in May and the EDC is entering year two of a renewed website/property-management contract with a vendor. He also described an internal policy of putting interest and surplus proceeds into a revitalization bucket when properties are sold above cost basis.

What’s next: Council and EDC staff discussed next steps, including confirming whether an HGAC agreement was executed, possible fast-track or incentives for grocery anchors, and further follow-up on beautification MOUs. Councilmembers asked staff to return with backing documents and to identify specific grant-match requirements before the next budget action session.

Ending: The EDC presentation was one of several departmental budget reviews on the council’s workshop agenda; staff said the EDC and council would follow up on corridor planning and developer reimbursement mechanics before finalizing the fiscal 2025–26 budget.